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Unseen Enemy #1
Enemy Within: Unseen Enemy, Book 1
When Emma Cartwright gets some very (very) bad health news, she handles it in just about the last way that anybody who knows her would expect. Namely, she heads out alone to a bar on Friday night, intent on having her first-ever one-night-stand. A single night of escape with a scorching guy, and then she’ll focus on her treatment and recovery. After all, what’s one night, really?
Ever since coming back from Afghanistan two years ago, Dean Jessop’s life is all about ‘just one night’. No commitment; nothing permanent; nothing long-term. He meets Emma and one night of hot sex later, she sneaks out of Dean’s place while he sleeps–and they both think that’s it. Neither expects to see the other ever again.
A month later, a chance encounter brings them back into each other’s lives. They strike an agreement which casual sex only, nothing too personal, and they can end it anytime with a single word. What Emma and Dean don’t count on is developing strong and real feelings for each other, despite Emma hiding her disease and Dean running from his guilt.
When Dean finally tells Emma what happened in Afghanistan, she wonders if she can confess her own dark secret. But can she really expect him to forgive her for hiding her illness from him? If she tells him the truth, will he be there for her through it all? And can she help him make peace with his own demons?
Ever since coming back from Afghanistan two years ago, Dean Jessop’s life is all about ‘just one night’. No commitment; nothing permanent; nothing long-term. He meets Emma and one night of hot sex later, she sneaks out of Dean’s place while he sleeps–and they both think that’s it. Neither expects to see the other ever again.
A month later, a chance encounter brings them back into each other’s lives. They strike an agreement which casual sex only, nothing too personal, and they can end it anytime with a single word. What Emma and Dean don’t count on is developing strong and real feelings for each other, despite Emma hiding her disease and Dean running from his guilt.
When Dean finally tells Emma what happened in Afghanistan, she wonders if she can confess her own dark secret. But can she really expect him to forgive her for hiding her illness from him? If she tells him the truth, will he be there for her through it all? And can she help him make peace with his own demons?
Audible Audio
First published August 25, 2014
74 people are currently reading
696 people want to read
About the author
Marysol James
36 books252 followersMarysol James was raised in a small town in Canada and is still a small-town girl at heart. She's a cancer survivor, cinnamon bun lover, and hardcore caffeine addict.
Marysol crosses genres in her writing, happily and enthusiastically. To date, she's published 30 steamy, sexy, slinky Contemporary Erotic Romances spread over five different series, including the Amazon and iBooks best selling 'Unseen Enemy', 'Dangerous Curves', and 'Road Devils MC' series. Her books incorporate action and adventure, suspense, military elements, and some surprising plot twists and turns.
Besides her romances, Marysol also writes crisp, clever, Contemporary Literature. It can be dark and provocative at times, and magical realism features heavily in her books. She loves moving between the worlds of magical realism and glorious romance, and she's grateful every day to be able to do both.
If you'd like to stay on top of her news, please visit her official author's website at www.marysoljames.com
Marysol crosses genres in her writing, happily and enthusiastically. To date, she's published 30 steamy, sexy, slinky Contemporary Erotic Romances spread over five different series, including the Amazon and iBooks best selling 'Unseen Enemy', 'Dangerous Curves', and 'Road Devils MC' series. Her books incorporate action and adventure, suspense, military elements, and some surprising plot twists and turns.
Besides her romances, Marysol also writes crisp, clever, Contemporary Literature. It can be dark and provocative at times, and magical realism features heavily in her books. She loves moving between the worlds of magical realism and glorious romance, and she's grateful every day to be able to do both.
If you'd like to stay on top of her news, please visit her official author's website at www.marysoljames.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 100 reviews
October 10, 2017
Get it here:
Amazon US * Amazon UK
Enemy Within was my first book by Marysol James and a great start to the Unseen Enemy series. Emma and Dean had a pretty fast moving relationship and I really liked seeing how easy they fell into being with one another. Especially when everything else in Emma's life seemed to be going wrong. Dean was there for her though and I loved that about him and had me admiring his character.
There are a lot of secondary characters that are introduced in this book as well so I'm really excited to get some of their stories and find out more about them.
Amazon US * Amazon UK
Enemy Within was my first book by Marysol James and a great start to the Unseen Enemy series. Emma and Dean had a pretty fast moving relationship and I really liked seeing how easy they fell into being with one another. Especially when everything else in Emma's life seemed to be going wrong. Dean was there for her though and I loved that about him and had me admiring his character.
There are a lot of secondary characters that are introduced in this book as well so I'm really excited to get some of their stories and find out more about them.
January 14, 2015
Ding, Ding, Ding!!! We have a winner!!
I finally have really good book rave!! Haven't had one for a little while. I've had these 4 books in my tbr pile for a while and I decided to start with book 1 one last night. It's the Unseen Enemy series by Marysol James. And it's flipping brilliant... well it had me sucked right in anyway, I just couldn't leave them alone. I think I may have flaked out for an hour or so at about 7 this morning when I just couldn't keep my eyes open any longer. Then I got back to it as soon as I woke up. Just finished the 4th one and CANNOT wait for march and book 5! The first 4 books are about 2 groups of friends. One, a bunch of of ex-servicemen, who are now 2 tattooists, a security/investigations/bodyguard service owner and a mechanic. And the other, a bunch of women - a psychologist, a model, a chef and a hairsylist. They all meet up through the first couple (the tattoo shop owner and the psychologist) who come together through a one night stand - the heroine's just gotten a horrid medical diagnosis and needs to forget and feel alive for one night before the stress, worry and treatment of her aggressive leukemia takes over her life.
Of course it doesn't stay a ONS, and real affection and love grows between them. All of them stepping up to support her allows them all to start building bonds, and changing the heroes in major ways - they've all pretty much been a bit manhoish since retiring from service and having their own baggage/issues brought about by war. Each book continues from where the previous left off, with each new couple slowly building and then cementing their relationship and you get updates as to how each previous couple is going. So while not cliffhangery or serialised, they are a series you need to read in order as each book has repercussions for the next, and so on. 1 is the psychologist and tattoo parlour owner, 2 is the security guy and the model with a stalker problem, 3 is the mechanic and the chef who's still trying to get over a gang-rape from 6 years earlier and 4 is the other tattooist and the hairdresser who's in hiding and on the run from a very bad guy. I really liked that none of the books happen lightning fast - the duration of the first book is about a year, and the third is also quite a few months, the other two being a bit less - so you can see these relationships have really cemented and settled. Totally believable HEAs. Oh, and no cheating or kinky stuff or editing issues, and it's totally third person. Just good, totally believable, solid love stories!
I think I was most pleasantly surprised by books 1 & 3 - the ones with the issues that are so often trivialised and glossed over in books... serious illness by a miracle cure and rape recovery by the magic wonderdong. But here, both were sensitively addressed and handled really well I thought. All the books are around the 150 page mark, but felt like longer "fuller" stories. Maybe coz they were really character driven stories and there wasn't any faffing around with outside unnecessary issues and so they just all pretty much focused on the people concerned.
I finally have really good book rave!! Haven't had one for a little while. I've had these 4 books in my tbr pile for a while and I decided to start with book 1 one last night. It's the Unseen Enemy series by Marysol James. And it's flipping brilliant... well it had me sucked right in anyway, I just couldn't leave them alone. I think I may have flaked out for an hour or so at about 7 this morning when I just couldn't keep my eyes open any longer. Then I got back to it as soon as I woke up. Just finished the 4th one and CANNOT wait for march and book 5! The first 4 books are about 2 groups of friends. One, a bunch of of ex-servicemen, who are now 2 tattooists, a security/investigations/bodyguard service owner and a mechanic. And the other, a bunch of women - a psychologist, a model, a chef and a hairsylist. They all meet up through the first couple (the tattoo shop owner and the psychologist) who come together through a one night stand - the heroine's just gotten a horrid medical diagnosis and needs to forget and feel alive for one night before the stress, worry and treatment of her aggressive leukemia takes over her life.
Of course it doesn't stay a ONS, and real affection and love grows between them. All of them stepping up to support her allows them all to start building bonds, and changing the heroes in major ways - they've all pretty much been a bit manhoish since retiring from service and having their own baggage/issues brought about by war. Each book continues from where the previous left off, with each new couple slowly building and then cementing their relationship and you get updates as to how each previous couple is going. So while not cliffhangery or serialised, they are a series you need to read in order as each book has repercussions for the next, and so on. 1 is the psychologist and tattoo parlour owner, 2 is the security guy and the model with a stalker problem, 3 is the mechanic and the chef who's still trying to get over a gang-rape from 6 years earlier and 4 is the other tattooist and the hairdresser who's in hiding and on the run from a very bad guy. I really liked that none of the books happen lightning fast - the duration of the first book is about a year, and the third is also quite a few months, the other two being a bit less - so you can see these relationships have really cemented and settled. Totally believable HEAs. Oh, and no cheating or kinky stuff or editing issues, and it's totally third person. Just good, totally believable, solid love stories!
I think I was most pleasantly surprised by books 1 & 3 - the ones with the issues that are so often trivialised and glossed over in books... serious illness by a miracle cure and rape recovery by the magic wonderdong. But here, both were sensitively addressed and handled really well I thought. All the books are around the 150 page mark, but felt like longer "fuller" stories. Maybe coz they were really character driven stories and there wasn't any faffing around with outside unnecessary issues and so they just all pretty much focused on the people concerned.
January 1, 2017
Still thinking about this one.
Heroine gets some bad news from her doctor regarding her health so that same night she does something she's never done before. Goes to a bar with the intent that she'll pick up a guy and have a one night stand with him. She does exactly that and then disappears in the morning without waking him up. One month later, she's in the hospital after a bunch of blood work and tests that were done and is thinking to herself that she's just so exhausted and tired that she just can't drive herself home and is just about to call one of her BFFs when *poof*, the hero shows up in the same hospital and sees her. They were only supposed to have that one night but in the month that he hasn't seen her, he hasn't been able to stop thinking about her. But wait. He hasn't been able to stop thinking about her BUT that didn't stop him from picking up other ladies at the same bar he met the heroine at and taking them back to his place so he can have sex with them. Nice. *sarcasm* So back to the hospital where he's magically shown up after one of her appointments. She's tired. She's exhausted. She just wants to go home and go to bed but magically, seeing him perks her right up and she agrees to have dinner with him then go home and have sex with him. O.O
They come up with some ground rules. They like having sex together so why stop, eh? They can have keep it casual.
Rules are:
1. No exchanging personal info (like she's going to die and has to go through chemo, etc)
2. He can't ever question when she has to be away for a few days (she tells him it's for work when in fact it's the days she has chemo and then the days afterwards where she's recovering from it.)
3. She tells him he can have sex with whoever he wants when she's not around because she has no ties to him. (It's all just casual so yes, bring her back an STD while she's dealing with all the stuff she's dealing with regarding her health. *insert major eye-rolling here*)
4. He can never come to her place, all the sexing has to be done at his place. (Because she lied about what she did for a living and if he saw her apartment he'd just know that there was no way she can afford such a place doing the job she lied about.)
5. They can break things off if/when the other wants and no questions will be asked.
He agrees to it all with one rule of his own: she can never disappear from his bed after a night of sex without waking him up first to let him know she's heading out.
So there they are. Having sexytimes throughout the book, in between all her chemo appointments and even though she "looks awful" on the days she's back from "traveling for work" (keyword: having chemo) that doesn't stop her from jumping into bed with him whenever they're near each other.
She never tells him she has Leukemia. Never tells him what she's going through and then the day she does decide to tell him? She has a nosebleed to rival all nosebleeds that causes her to pass out in his bed and makes him initially think someone broke into his place and attacked her while he was in the kitchen making her coffee, when he sees all the blood on her and on his bed. For real?! No seriously, FOR REAL??
He and his friend rush her to the hospital where he finds out through her friends what she's dealing with. There was never any mention how those friends found out what happened because the heroine kept her personal life completely separate from the life she was pretending to have with the hero. At no time in the book did they even meet before that hospital scene where one of her BFFs basically tells him he's good to go now because the rules of their "relationship" didn't include him finding out the heroine was sick and hanging around after that. He was free to go and to take his friends with him. Blah blah blah. Hero and his friends leave, head back to the hero's place, get drunk and then decide that if the hero wants to be with the heroine, they're going to make it happen.
The hero and his friends stay at the hospital the whole time heroine is in there and when she's released, hero takes her back to his place to recover. Heroine is losing weight, losing her hair, always tired, etc etc etc but the hero and his friends help take care of her, along with her girlfriends.
Then comes the day that the heroine wakes up feeling normal enough to make breakfast for the hero and his friend. After friend leaves, she then is well enough to have sexytimes with the hero. She went from death's door to sexytimes that fast? Hmm. The following day she's back to feeling awful and barely eating. They end up finding a donor match for her so she has that surgery not soon after that and then magically she's all better and she and the hero exchange I Love Yous.
We're never told she's in full remission in this book and I wonder if this story will be mentioned in the books beyond their own story because looking at the blurbs for the other books, her three friends each end up with his three friends so it's one big happy family, I guess.
When I first saw this mentioned at the Amazon forums, I was hoping it would be a tearjerker for me but it was more a WTF read than anything. I don't know, maybe because I saw a close friend go through chemo and saw how it would take her weeks to recover in between bouts of chemo and not days like in this book and sexytimes? Yeah right.
Heroine gets some bad news from her doctor regarding her health so that same night she does something she's never done before. Goes to a bar with the intent that she'll pick up a guy and have a one night stand with him. She does exactly that and then disappears in the morning without waking him up. One month later, she's in the hospital after a bunch of blood work and tests that were done and is thinking to herself that she's just so exhausted and tired that she just can't drive herself home and is just about to call one of her BFFs when *poof*, the hero shows up in the same hospital and sees her. They were only supposed to have that one night but in the month that he hasn't seen her, he hasn't been able to stop thinking about her. But wait. He hasn't been able to stop thinking about her BUT that didn't stop him from picking up other ladies at the same bar he met the heroine at and taking them back to his place so he can have sex with them. Nice. *sarcasm* So back to the hospital where he's magically shown up after one of her appointments. She's tired. She's exhausted. She just wants to go home and go to bed but magically, seeing him perks her right up and she agrees to have dinner with him then go home and have sex with him. O.O
They come up with some ground rules. They like having sex together so why stop, eh? They can have keep it casual.
Rules are:
1. No exchanging personal info (like she's going to die and has to go through chemo, etc)
2. He can't ever question when she has to be away for a few days (she tells him it's for work when in fact it's the days she has chemo and then the days afterwards where she's recovering from it.)
3. She tells him he can have sex with whoever he wants when she's not around because she has no ties to him. (It's all just casual so yes, bring her back an STD while she's dealing with all the stuff she's dealing with regarding her health. *insert major eye-rolling here*)
4. He can never come to her place, all the sexing has to be done at his place. (Because she lied about what she did for a living and if he saw her apartment he'd just know that there was no way she can afford such a place doing the job she lied about.)
5. They can break things off if/when the other wants and no questions will be asked.
He agrees to it all with one rule of his own: she can never disappear from his bed after a night of sex without waking him up first to let him know she's heading out.
So there they are. Having sexytimes throughout the book, in between all her chemo appointments and even though she "looks awful" on the days she's back from "traveling for work" (keyword: having chemo) that doesn't stop her from jumping into bed with him whenever they're near each other.
She never tells him she has Leukemia. Never tells him what she's going through and then the day she does decide to tell him? She has a nosebleed to rival all nosebleeds that causes her to pass out in his bed and makes him initially think someone broke into his place and attacked her while he was in the kitchen making her coffee, when he sees all the blood on her and on his bed. For real?! No seriously, FOR REAL??
He and his friend rush her to the hospital where he finds out through her friends what she's dealing with. There was never any mention how those friends found out what happened because the heroine kept her personal life completely separate from the life she was pretending to have with the hero. At no time in the book did they even meet before that hospital scene where one of her BFFs basically tells him he's good to go now because the rules of their "relationship" didn't include him finding out the heroine was sick and hanging around after that. He was free to go and to take his friends with him. Blah blah blah. Hero and his friends leave, head back to the hero's place, get drunk and then decide that if the hero wants to be with the heroine, they're going to make it happen.
The hero and his friends stay at the hospital the whole time heroine is in there and when she's released, hero takes her back to his place to recover. Heroine is losing weight, losing her hair, always tired, etc etc etc but the hero and his friends help take care of her, along with her girlfriends.
Then comes the day that the heroine wakes up feeling normal enough to make breakfast for the hero and his friend. After friend leaves, she then is well enough to have sexytimes with the hero. She went from death's door to sexytimes that fast? Hmm. The following day she's back to feeling awful and barely eating. They end up finding a donor match for her so she has that surgery not soon after that and then magically she's all better and she and the hero exchange I Love Yous.
We're never told she's in full remission in this book and I wonder if this story will be mentioned in the books beyond their own story because looking at the blurbs for the other books, her three friends each end up with his three friends so it's one big happy family, I guess.
When I first saw this mentioned at the Amazon forums, I was hoping it would be a tearjerker for me but it was more a WTF read than anything. I don't know, maybe because I saw a close friend go through chemo and saw how it would take her weeks to recover in between bouts of chemo and not days like in this book and sexytimes? Yeah right.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 11, 2015
4 Sweet Stars
For a short read, this sure packed some emotional punch.
The characters are mature adults dealing with real-world adult issues.
Being that it was a short read, some things were glossed over, rushed, and/or left out - but I always consider that par for the course when reading a novella.
Otherwise, I really liked this book's cast of characters. Emma and Dean were both very real, solid characters - although I could have done without , but such is real life, I suppose.
I also really loved all the secondary characters - ESPECIALLY Dallas.
And best of all? I got this little nugget for "free" via KU.
On to the next in the series!
For a short read, this sure packed some emotional punch.
The characters are mature adults dealing with real-world adult issues.
Being that it was a short read, some things were glossed over, rushed, and/or left out - but I always consider that par for the course when reading a novella.
Otherwise, I really liked this book's cast of characters. Emma and Dean were both very real, solid characters - although I could have done without , but such is real life, I suppose.
I also really loved all the secondary characters - ESPECIALLY Dallas.
And best of all? I got this little nugget for "free" via KU.
On to the next in the series!
December 16, 2016
The story was too thin.I just finished and it was one of the most abrupt ending ever. I didn't like the writing style. It's in 3rd person. But it wasn't what really bothered me. It was all the povs. You had the thoughts of all the characters. The 2 MCs and their 6 friends.And it changed in a paragraph. Maybe some editing would be nice, I guess. I think all the other secondary characters thought should be cut out.
I already said in my updates posts I feel zero compassion for the plot, but I need to mention a random fact here. Like I said, you knew the thoughts of everyone in the book. It was NOT WELL DONE. At some point when the heroine was losing her hair (because of chemo) she decided to go to heroine friends salon to have it cut. One of the Hero's friends took her and at some point while her hair was being chopped, this guys's thou were something like this: I feel sorry for all that hair being cut. She had a beautiful hair. A man's dream hair that he felt like bury his hands on it. I mean, really? How inappropriate. It's his friend's girlfriend (a sick one for the matter) you're thinking about. Gross.
In other words, I dislike this book and I won't read any other from the author if that's her writing style
I already said in my updates posts I feel zero compassion for the plot, but I need to mention a random fact here. Like I said, you knew the thoughts of everyone in the book. It was NOT WELL DONE. At some point when the heroine was losing her hair (because of chemo) she decided to go to heroine friends salon to have it cut. One of the Hero's friends took her and at some point while her hair was being chopped, this guys's thou were something like this: I feel sorry for all that hair being cut. She had a beautiful hair. A man's dream hair that he felt like bury his hands on it. I mean, really? How inappropriate. It's his friend's girlfriend (a sick one for the matter) you're thinking about. Gross.
In other words, I dislike this book and I won't read any other from the author if that's her writing style
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 9, 2015
★Book Basics★
Genre : - Cont Romance
Series : - Book 1 in the series
Love triangle? -
Cheating? -
HEA? -
Would I read more by this author/or in this series? - Yes
Rating - 3 stars
★Review★
I have seen a lot about this author and this series on some of the discussion board I am on.
I did enjoy it, although I struggled in the beginning with the idea of all these grown adults, men and women, all toddling off to the same place, every weekend, to hook up with a different person each time, and their only intention is to hook up. And while I did not have an issue with the hero sleeping with someone after he sleeps with the heroine - after all it was just a one night stand, he made no promises, that is not my issue - it was more how it was portrayed. The hero and his friends are doing it as they are broken and tormented. But the women they sleep with - oh, no respect deserved for them, they are portrayed as shallow, and walking out the door of one of the guys, while making a come on to his friend saying he might be next! **sighs**
Even the heroine needs to have some pretty shocking news to go for a one night stand, since you know, she is a "good girl" and has not even had sex for 5 years before this, so is practically virginal!
However, I did actually enjoy the book once we got past that bit, and onto a building of the relationship between the two main characters. I liked how Dean wanted to be there for Emma and proved he could be, loved their relationship from that point.
But, it felt a bit too short for a book with such heavy issues, almost like it could not pack quite the emotional punch it ought to.
But overall, I enjoyed it and will be reading on in the series, as I really want to read about their group of friends.
Genre : - Cont Romance
Series : - Book 1 in the series
Love triangle? -
Cheating? -
HEA? -
Would I read more by this author/or in this series? - Yes
Rating - 3 stars
★Review★
I have seen a lot about this author and this series on some of the discussion board I am on.
I did enjoy it, although I struggled in the beginning with the idea of all these grown adults, men and women, all toddling off to the same place, every weekend, to hook up with a different person each time, and their only intention is to hook up. And while I did not have an issue with the hero sleeping with someone after he sleeps with the heroine - after all it was just a one night stand, he made no promises, that is not my issue - it was more how it was portrayed. The hero and his friends are doing it as they are broken and tormented. But the women they sleep with - oh, no respect deserved for them, they are portrayed as shallow, and walking out the door of one of the guys, while making a come on to his friend saying he might be next! **sighs**
Even the heroine needs to have some pretty shocking news to go for a one night stand, since you know, she is a "good girl" and has not even had sex for 5 years before this, so is practically virginal!
However, I did actually enjoy the book once we got past that bit, and onto a building of the relationship between the two main characters. I liked how Dean wanted to be there for Emma and proved he could be, loved their relationship from that point.
But, it felt a bit too short for a book with such heavy issues, almost like it could not pack quite the emotional punch it ought to.
But overall, I enjoyed it and will be reading on in the series, as I really want to read about their group of friends.
January 16, 2015
Dean and Emma, hottie ex-military man turned tattoo artist and a clinical psychologist, have a one night stand but they can’t stop thinking of each other and embark on a no-strings affair. But it’s never that simple.
The Good, The Bad and Everything In Between
-Kindle Unlimited book: always great for discovering new (to me) authors.
-Relatively short read: At 160 pages, this is a bit longer than a novella but not so long that you need to carve out a big amount of time to read it. Or perhaps it felt short because I tore through this like a fat kid through cake.
-Solid storytelling: this series was recommended by a friend on goodreads and she didn’t steer me wrong. The first book has a standard trope - the one night stand turned into more - BUT the writing was very well done and engaging. Emma is facing a very serious health crisis and it is handled in a very realistic manner...hopeful but realistic.
-Interesting leads: Dean and Emma are fully developed characters with lives outside of their relationship and a good sense of themselves. There is no real insecurity from either of them and it was a refreshing change.
-Good chemistry: The dialogue between Dean and Emma from the very beginning really allowed me to understand and appreciate how they connected to each other. There are sex scenes and an intimacy between them throughout the story, but I loved that Ms. James knew when to fully play out the love scenes and when to fade to black. I love a good ole smutty book, but sometimes, less really is more. In this case, it balanced well with the seriousness of the book.
-There will be sequels: of course there four ex-military men friends meeting four independent women friends destined to pair up. You can easily see each friend and their potential mate from jump, and I liked that each woman and man has hints of their personal issues but doesn’t distract from the main story of Dean and Emma. Best yet, there is a connection between the stories, but there is a resolution to this, even if it is a HFN.
-Sexal tension...not so much: All of it is from Emma’s illness, and not so much from Dean and Emma’s relationship. It really makes sense with the central theme, and their emotional connection more than makes up for it, but from a romantic standpoint, but I didn’t have that passionate response to their actual romance.
The Bottom Line
I’d recommend it, especially if you like a well-grounded story with likeable characters and don't mind serious health issues with your romance. I’m off to read the rest of the series.
The Good, The Bad and Everything In Between
-Kindle Unlimited book: always great for discovering new (to me) authors.
-Relatively short read: At 160 pages, this is a bit longer than a novella but not so long that you need to carve out a big amount of time to read it. Or perhaps it felt short because I tore through this like a fat kid through cake.
-Solid storytelling: this series was recommended by a friend on goodreads and she didn’t steer me wrong. The first book has a standard trope - the one night stand turned into more - BUT the writing was very well done and engaging. Emma is facing a very serious health crisis and it is handled in a very realistic manner...hopeful but realistic.
-Interesting leads: Dean and Emma are fully developed characters with lives outside of their relationship and a good sense of themselves. There is no real insecurity from either of them and it was a refreshing change.
-Good chemistry: The dialogue between Dean and Emma from the very beginning really allowed me to understand and appreciate how they connected to each other. There are sex scenes and an intimacy between them throughout the story, but I loved that Ms. James knew when to fully play out the love scenes and when to fade to black. I love a good ole smutty book, but sometimes, less really is more. In this case, it balanced well with the seriousness of the book.
-There will be sequels: of course there four ex-military men friends meeting four independent women friends destined to pair up. You can easily see each friend and their potential mate from jump, and I liked that each woman and man has hints of their personal issues but doesn’t distract from the main story of Dean and Emma. Best yet, there is a connection between the stories, but there is a resolution to this, even if it is a HFN.
-Sexal tension...not so much: All of it is from Emma’s illness, and not so much from Dean and Emma’s relationship. It really makes sense with the central theme, and their emotional connection more than makes up for it, but from a romantic standpoint, but I didn’t have that passionate response to their actual romance.
The Bottom Line
I’d recommend it, especially if you like a well-grounded story with likeable characters and don't mind serious health issues with your romance. I’m off to read the rest of the series.
nfmaa
July 19, 2018H not celibate after having ONS with h, though of course he can't stop thinking about her!!!!!!! May his d**k rot right off 😂😂
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 12, 2015
4.0-4.25 RATING-I kept seeing all these books by Marysol James show up in my feed or in different groups I'm in so finally had to give in and try one out. Glad I did!
I was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked it. The writing was solid, I really liked the story, and I thought the steamy bits were really well written and sexy. I really liked both main characters and the supporting characters were also likable. I loved how both sets of friends came together to support Emma. I'm looking forward to reading about them in future books. Another thing I loved? Dean! Dean was a man whore before meeting Emma but he eventually reforms his ways. Dean's actually getting a spot on my best boyfriend shelf!
Overall, I really liked it and am actually jumping right into book two!
Note: At the time this review was posted, this book was available to borrow through Amazon's Kindle Unlimited program.
To see other books available to borrow through Kindle Unlimited or SCRIBD, check out the Subscription Addiction group
https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
I was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked it. The writing was solid, I really liked the story, and I thought the steamy bits were really well written and sexy. I really liked both main characters and the supporting characters were also likable. I loved how both sets of friends came together to support Emma. I'm looking forward to reading about them in future books. Another thing I loved? Dean! Dean was a man whore before meeting Emma but he eventually reforms his ways. Dean's actually getting a spot on my best boyfriend shelf!
Overall, I really liked it and am actually jumping right into book two!
Note: At the time this review was posted, this book was available to borrow through Amazon's Kindle Unlimited program.
To see other books available to borrow through Kindle Unlimited or SCRIBD, check out the Subscription Addiction group
https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
January 31, 2015
FIVE "WE'RE GOING TO GET THROUGH THIS TOGETHER" STARS!
This series was recommended to me by a friend, and it was the first book I've read by the incredibly talented Marysol James. This author is that rare one who can so masterfully weave a tale and do so in very few words. Her books are short, but they are rich in depth, character development, plot line and a gorgeous, breathtaking romance.
"You'll do just fine."
Emma Cartwright has just been given the worst news imaginable. She's about to head down a long road full of pain and struggle in the hopes of getting to the other side of her issue. Before this journey begins, she wants one night. One night to feel, be free, be desired - to forget - before the truth of her circumstances consumes her and her life. She heads into a bar with a single-minded focus. She's going to pick up a man and have a passionate one night stand.
Dean Jessop is is sick to death of the same old, same old. Same bar, same women, same game. A retired Army Ranger and owner of a tattoo parlor, he's out with his three best buddies, Dallas, Chris and Jim, for their usual weekend routine of drinking and picking up no strings one nighters. Dean isn't feeling it this night, though. Then he spots Emma. He "rescues" her from some unwanted drunk man's attention, and they strike up a conversation. They just click, conversation flows easily, flirting commences and Emma agrees to go home with Dean. They share a passionate night, and Emma sneaks out on him in the morning.
"What could be a better escape?"
Weeks go by and Emma is going through her personal crisis. She has the support of her three best friends, Olivia, Jenny and Kat, and she's managing. She runs into Dean, and they strike up a deal of sorts. For Emma, this is a way for her to escape her crisis. For Dean, well he just wants Emma again, and her offer of very casual, no-strings sex seems to be a dream come true. Her friends are wary of this arrangement, it's not Emma's style at all but ultimately understand Emma's need to have one safe place - the arrangement with Dean - where she can forget what she's going through. They spend more and more time together, and despite their agreement both are developing feelings for the other. Emma's crisis is getting worse, and Dean has no idea what she's going through. Obviously, that blows up for her in a big way, and Dean finds out the truth. He has a major epiphany, and with the help of his three best friends, they set out to prove to her best friends that they ALL want to be there to help and support Emma and her friends through this crisis. The guys win over Emma's friends in a big, big way, and they come through for all of them, but especially Emma. A deep friendship forms between all the friends as they support Emma and Dean through everything.
"I've got you now, and I'm not going anywhere."
Over the coming weeks, Dean and Emma fall in deeper with each other. Dean is her rock, but her friends and his are an incredible support system. These men cared deeply for Emma and it showed in they way that they were there for her and for Dean. I really loved the moments of one-on-one support and encouragement that Emma received from Dean's friends. These gruff, rough former Rangers really stepped up for her, and it was a beautiful display of friendship and caring. Her friends really warmed to Dean's friends, and Olivia shares with Dallas the details of a situation that she is dealing with, thus laying the groundwork for the second book in this series. Finally, Emma gets the news that they all have been praying for in regards to her crisis.
"I love you for being here."
I just loved this first book, and I'm excited to dive right in to the next one. I love these characters, I love the friendship that has grown through Emma's crisis and the sparks of love that are blooming between them. Marysol James has given the reader so much in so few pages. Her storytelling abilities are enthralling and captivating. With this one story, I'm a fan. An amazing, delicious story of friendship and love through the worst of circumstances, this group of characters have left me anxious for more. Very well done, Marysol James!
This series was recommended to me by a friend, and it was the first book I've read by the incredibly talented Marysol James. This author is that rare one who can so masterfully weave a tale and do so in very few words. Her books are short, but they are rich in depth, character development, plot line and a gorgeous, breathtaking romance.
"You'll do just fine."
Emma Cartwright has just been given the worst news imaginable. She's about to head down a long road full of pain and struggle in the hopes of getting to the other side of her issue. Before this journey begins, she wants one night. One night to feel, be free, be desired - to forget - before the truth of her circumstances consumes her and her life. She heads into a bar with a single-minded focus. She's going to pick up a man and have a passionate one night stand.
Dean Jessop is is sick to death of the same old, same old. Same bar, same women, same game. A retired Army Ranger and owner of a tattoo parlor, he's out with his three best buddies, Dallas, Chris and Jim, for their usual weekend routine of drinking and picking up no strings one nighters. Dean isn't feeling it this night, though. Then he spots Emma. He "rescues" her from some unwanted drunk man's attention, and they strike up a conversation. They just click, conversation flows easily, flirting commences and Emma agrees to go home with Dean. They share a passionate night, and Emma sneaks out on him in the morning.
"What could be a better escape?"
Weeks go by and Emma is going through her personal crisis. She has the support of her three best friends, Olivia, Jenny and Kat, and she's managing. She runs into Dean, and they strike up a deal of sorts. For Emma, this is a way for her to escape her crisis. For Dean, well he just wants Emma again, and her offer of very casual, no-strings sex seems to be a dream come true. Her friends are wary of this arrangement, it's not Emma's style at all but ultimately understand Emma's need to have one safe place - the arrangement with Dean - where she can forget what she's going through. They spend more and more time together, and despite their agreement both are developing feelings for the other. Emma's crisis is getting worse, and Dean has no idea what she's going through. Obviously, that blows up for her in a big way, and Dean finds out the truth. He has a major epiphany, and with the help of his three best friends, they set out to prove to her best friends that they ALL want to be there to help and support Emma and her friends through this crisis. The guys win over Emma's friends in a big, big way, and they come through for all of them, but especially Emma. A deep friendship forms between all the friends as they support Emma and Dean through everything.
"I've got you now, and I'm not going anywhere."
Over the coming weeks, Dean and Emma fall in deeper with each other. Dean is her rock, but her friends and his are an incredible support system. These men cared deeply for Emma and it showed in they way that they were there for her and for Dean. I really loved the moments of one-on-one support and encouragement that Emma received from Dean's friends. These gruff, rough former Rangers really stepped up for her, and it was a beautiful display of friendship and caring. Her friends really warmed to Dean's friends, and Olivia shares with Dallas the details of a situation that she is dealing with, thus laying the groundwork for the second book in this series. Finally, Emma gets the news that they all have been praying for in regards to her crisis.
"I love you for being here."
I just loved this first book, and I'm excited to dive right in to the next one. I love these characters, I love the friendship that has grown through Emma's crisis and the sparks of love that are blooming between them. Marysol James has given the reader so much in so few pages. Her storytelling abilities are enthralling and captivating. With this one story, I'm a fan. An amazing, delicious story of friendship and love through the worst of circumstances, this group of characters have left me anxious for more. Very well done, Marysol James!
July 19, 2015
4-4.5 stars
This was a really good story. I will admit that my opinions were varied as I read but in the end I was extremely pleased with how the story turned out. This is the first story I've read y this author and cased on this I'm planning to read more of her work in the future.
***FYI - This review might be considered spoilerish because I'm going to talk about Emma's illness***
Emma is a psychologist and a good woman. She has 3 very close female friends but hasn't dated for 5 years because of a relationship that ended very badly. Her parents are alive but work as humanitarian doctors and are overseas pretty much constantly.
Dean is an ex-Ranger who now co-owns a tattoo shop with one of his buddies. He has 3 buddies from the military that he's very close to. They all have their own "ghosts" haunting them from their time in afghanistan and tend to bury themselves in one nighters while they bury their pain.
So when the story begins, Emma has just found out that she's been diagnosed with Leukemia. She knows that it's not a good idea but she needs to lose herself so she goes to a bar looking for a one night stand. Dean is at the bar with his buddies to pick up a chick but can't seem to get interested in the women there...at least not until he sees Emma having trouble with a pushy drunk that won't take no for an answer. He saves her and they spark up a conversation. There's an attraction between them and they go home together. Things go well for them and they have a good night but Emma wakes up around 5am and sneaks out before Dean wakes up. Dean's a bit disappointed that she's gone when he wakes but he thinks it'll fade. However, even when he picks another woman up the next week it doesn't fade and all he can think about is Emma. Luckily, Dean ends up in the hospital on a day that Emma is there. Once they see each other again, Dean and Emma both want more so they agree to an arrangement where they see each other regularly for sex but no personal questions are allowed.
Regardless of the rules, both Dean and Emma become emotionally involved with each other. Dean finds Emma smooths his trauma from his service and Emma finds that being with Dean helps her face her chemo treatments better. She manages to hide her condition from Dean (for the most part), saying she's travelling for work when she's getting her treatments and is really sick from them. The longer they're together, the more both of them start to want more. Emma thinks this is impossible and plans to break things off with Dean once her sickness gets too bad to hide. Things change though and with those changes, Dean shows just how good of a man he is deep down. The story really takes the reader on an emotional journey, going into the sickness and the difficulties that friends and family have to deal with to be there for their sick loved one. I really liked how things turned out and Dean and Emma getting their well deserved HEA.
This was a really enjoyable story. I will admit that I had varied reactions to the story. It went from 3 stars (I wasn't too thrilled with the 4 men at first...their attitudes kind of bothered me in the beginning) to 4 stars (when Dean and Emma were together and starting to feel more for each other) to 5 stars in the end. This was a rather emotional journey so I'd have some tissues handy. Overall, I really enjoyed this story and am looking forward to reading the next book in the series. I'd recommend this book. :D
This was a really good story. I will admit that my opinions were varied as I read but in the end I was extremely pleased with how the story turned out. This is the first story I've read y this author and cased on this I'm planning to read more of her work in the future.
***FYI - This review might be considered spoilerish because I'm going to talk about Emma's illness***
Emma is a psychologist and a good woman. She has 3 very close female friends but hasn't dated for 5 years because of a relationship that ended very badly. Her parents are alive but work as humanitarian doctors and are overseas pretty much constantly.
Dean is an ex-Ranger who now co-owns a tattoo shop with one of his buddies. He has 3 buddies from the military that he's very close to. They all have their own "ghosts" haunting them from their time in afghanistan and tend to bury themselves in one nighters while they bury their pain.
So when the story begins, Emma has just found out that she's been diagnosed with Leukemia. She knows that it's not a good idea but she needs to lose herself so she goes to a bar looking for a one night stand. Dean is at the bar with his buddies to pick up a chick but can't seem to get interested in the women there...at least not until he sees Emma having trouble with a pushy drunk that won't take no for an answer. He saves her and they spark up a conversation. There's an attraction between them and they go home together. Things go well for them and they have a good night but Emma wakes up around 5am and sneaks out before Dean wakes up. Dean's a bit disappointed that she's gone when he wakes but he thinks it'll fade. However, even when he picks another woman up the next week it doesn't fade and all he can think about is Emma. Luckily, Dean ends up in the hospital on a day that Emma is there. Once they see each other again, Dean and Emma both want more so they agree to an arrangement where they see each other regularly for sex but no personal questions are allowed.
Regardless of the rules, both Dean and Emma become emotionally involved with each other. Dean finds Emma smooths his trauma from his service and Emma finds that being with Dean helps her face her chemo treatments better. She manages to hide her condition from Dean (for the most part), saying she's travelling for work when she's getting her treatments and is really sick from them. The longer they're together, the more both of them start to want more. Emma thinks this is impossible and plans to break things off with Dean once her sickness gets too bad to hide. Things change though and with those changes, Dean shows just how good of a man he is deep down. The story really takes the reader on an emotional journey, going into the sickness and the difficulties that friends and family have to deal with to be there for their sick loved one. I really liked how things turned out and Dean and Emma getting their well deserved HEA.
This was a really enjoyable story. I will admit that I had varied reactions to the story. It went from 3 stars (I wasn't too thrilled with the 4 men at first...their attitudes kind of bothered me in the beginning) to 4 stars (when Dean and Emma were together and starting to feel more for each other) to 5 stars in the end. This was a rather emotional journey so I'd have some tissues handy. Overall, I really enjoyed this story and am looking forward to reading the next book in the series. I'd recommend this book. :D
February 14, 2015
LOVED IT! Loved it, loved it, loved it. Oh what a pleasure to read a fabulous book about an adult couple that have genuine issues that they are trying to deal with the best way possible without pushing each other away. No YA/NA manufactured histrionics here thank goodness. I can’t put my finger on why this just worked for me, it just did. There was no suspense (which I love in a book), no silly secrets that were held back until the end, no drawn out angst, no other men/women, just pure brilliant story-telling.
Emma is diagnosed with AML (acute myeloid leukaemia) and knows she has the fight of her life on her hands. She wants one last night to feel “real” before the treatment that is going to hammer her starts. So she decides to pick up a one night stand. Enter Dean. Hot, hunky, does not do relationships Dean. So, they have their epic one night and Emma sneaks off early hours the next morning.
Dean is a pure alpha male, he is comfortable in his own skin, protective, caring, all-in without once being overpowering or pulling any alpha-hole moves. That's what I call an alpha male.
They don’t see each other for a few weeks until Dean bumps into Emma at the hospital. They decide on a “ask no questions, have no expectations” affair. During this time Emma is undergoing gruelling chemo yet still manages to hide her leukaemia from Dean. That said, it was not sneaky or underhanded, they agreed to no sharing about their private lives. Famous last words, because they slowly fall for each other, and Dean is gutted when he realises just how Emma has been struggling, despite how brave she has been.
I LOVED their fall for each other, it was done so beautifully. I loved that when the shit hit the fan there was no ridiculous drama or angst thrown in, it was handled by adults like adults. They LISTENED to each other, spoke to each other, respected each other and understood each other. They understood and accepted each other’s boundaries, yet were there for each other when it mattered most.
The author has included some truly awesome friends for them both, they will get their own books in the series yaaay!! Emma and Dean get their HFN but their story continues in the next books so not once did I feel that I was cheated. The book is slightly longer than a novella but never did I feel like I was reading a short book. It’s so well written that I didn’t feel the story was rushed or skimped in the least, instead it sucked me in from word one and kept me interested all the way through.
A truly fabulous read that is worth every one of the 5 stars I am rating this, from a new to me author. Marysol James, I am your neweststalker *coughs* fan.
Emma is diagnosed with AML (acute myeloid leukaemia) and knows she has the fight of her life on her hands. She wants one last night to feel “real” before the treatment that is going to hammer her starts. So she decides to pick up a one night stand. Enter Dean. Hot, hunky, does not do relationships Dean. So, they have their epic one night and Emma sneaks off early hours the next morning.
Dean is a pure alpha male, he is comfortable in his own skin, protective, caring, all-in without once being overpowering or pulling any alpha-hole moves. That's what I call an alpha male.
They don’t see each other for a few weeks until Dean bumps into Emma at the hospital. They decide on a “ask no questions, have no expectations” affair. During this time Emma is undergoing gruelling chemo yet still manages to hide her leukaemia from Dean. That said, it was not sneaky or underhanded, they agreed to no sharing about their private lives. Famous last words, because they slowly fall for each other, and Dean is gutted when he realises just how Emma has been struggling, despite how brave she has been.
I LOVED their fall for each other, it was done so beautifully. I loved that when the shit hit the fan there was no ridiculous drama or angst thrown in, it was handled by adults like adults. They LISTENED to each other, spoke to each other, respected each other and understood each other. They understood and accepted each other’s boundaries, yet were there for each other when it mattered most.
The author has included some truly awesome friends for them both, they will get their own books in the series yaaay!! Emma and Dean get their HFN but their story continues in the next books so not once did I feel that I was cheated. The book is slightly longer than a novella but never did I feel like I was reading a short book. It’s so well written that I didn’t feel the story was rushed or skimped in the least, instead it sucked me in from word one and kept me interested all the way through.
A truly fabulous read that is worth every one of the 5 stars I am rating this, from a new to me author. Marysol James, I am your newest
February 12, 2015
4.5 WE'LL STAND BY YOU TWINKLY STARS
This short story had me hooked from the first page to the last and left me wanting for more.
It had the perfect combo - sweet, sexy and hhhhot, delicious Dean
- sweet, bright and beautiful , Emma
These two were made for each other, and though the subject matter was grim, not once did it make you feel that way.
It was a fast paced read, that was both heartwarming and heartbreaking in parts. It was a story of hope and coming together to fight for those you love and knowing that with true friends by your side you can get through just about anything.
A great short read and I can't wait to read the next one!!!
Thanks Danielle for recommending it to me :)
This short story had me hooked from the first page to the last and left me wanting for more.
It had the perfect combo - sweet, sexy and hhhhot, delicious Dean
- sweet, bright and beautiful , Emma
These two were made for each other, and though the subject matter was grim, not once did it make you feel that way.
It was a fast paced read, that was both heartwarming and heartbreaking in parts. It was a story of hope and coming together to fight for those you love and knowing that with true friends by your side you can get through just about anything.
A great short read and I can't wait to read the next one!!!
Thanks Danielle for recommending it to me :)
can-never-read
November 12, 2015Why, oh why do the authors continue to insist on describing in detail sex scenes with OW, here his even worse because it's after the MC slept with the h... My lord...
Self note:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Self note:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
January 26, 2015
4.5 stars & rounding up to 5 stars due to the strong finish.
3rd person POV, alternating between the H, Dean and the h, Emma. I am anxious to find out what happens next!
On to the next book in the series: Enemy Outside Thanks to Neeta for the recco of this series.
Dean is awesome and Emma is very sweet and has a (inner) strength that rivals Dean or any of Dean's friends.
There is a serious illness, and I like how it was handled.I thought that the secret should have been revealed a little sooner. I do't have time for any more review since, I'm on to the next book.
Just note, that if you read this book you will be like me & want dive into the next one Liv & Dallas' story.
AND I do want to catch up with Dean & Emma.
3rd person POV, alternating between the H, Dean and the h, Emma. I am anxious to find out what happens next!
On to the next book in the series: Enemy Outside Thanks to Neeta for the recco of this series.
Dean is awesome and Emma is very sweet and has a (inner) strength that rivals Dean or any of Dean's friends.
There is a serious illness, and I like how it was handled.I thought that the secret should have been revealed a little sooner. I do't have time for any more review since, I'm on to the next book.
Just note, that if you read this book you will be like me & want dive into the next one Liv & Dallas' story.
AND I do want to catch up with Dean & Emma.
August 29, 2015
I did like the the story and the writing and if it hadn't been so short I would have rated it higher. Problem for me was that it just had chunks of story missing, lots of skipping way ahead which took all the emotion and tension out of the heavy issues. Like reading a book with chapters missing. That is what it felt to me, especially towards the end. It was quite a let down.
I heard this author recommended so much and I really love the story and the emotional punch, at least at the start and when stuff isn't being skipped. But looking at the authors books they are all this short, some even shorter. More like novellas. Kind of sad as I was so hoping to have found a new author and now I don't know if I want to continue reading the series, even though I want to know about the other characters. But I don't want more of this abruptness and feeling of missing chapters. Just baffling to me really the last chunk of this one.
Not a word from the heroine anymore at some point which was so out of place considering the treatment. Just bam to treatment, skip days, week, months, I have no clue and then end. I just didn't really get a real satisfying HEA and I felt cheated of it with all this build up. I kind of like the HEA/HFN to be on screen so to speak, not mostly off screen. It makes a romance feel incomplete when reading.
Sigh. Could have been so awesome. Sadface.
I heard this author recommended so much and I really love the story and the emotional punch, at least at the start and when stuff isn't being skipped. But looking at the authors books they are all this short, some even shorter. More like novellas. Kind of sad as I was so hoping to have found a new author and now I don't know if I want to continue reading the series, even though I want to know about the other characters. But I don't want more of this abruptness and feeling of missing chapters. Just baffling to me really the last chunk of this one.
Not a word from the heroine anymore at some point which was so out of place considering the treatment. Just bam to treatment, skip days, week, months, I have no clue and then end. I just didn't really get a real satisfying HEA and I felt cheated of it with all this build up. I kind of like the HEA/HFN to be on screen so to speak, not mostly off screen. It makes a romance feel incomplete when reading.
Sigh. Could have been so awesome. Sadface.
October 17, 2015
Good solid read. More like 3.5 stars. There was a lot going on for such a short book and it made me emotional at time. I didn't like that the book was overloaded with so many characters. The close knit friendship group was nice but I wanted to focus on the main character.
January 9, 2017
I loved it. It was a real tear jerker for me, but then I also cried when they shot old yeller.
January 17, 2015
Love, love, loved it.
January 28, 2015
3.5 stars... I think there were really good parts, but also some things that really irritated me. I doubt I will continue with the series.
The good: The emotional scenes were great. Dealing with cancer was torture but the friendship and support was beautifully portrayed. I loved that the heroine was a clinical psychologist who did not overanalyze everyone. She was smart and kind.
Not so good: Most of the helpful background info was doled out slowly and I felt like some was missing. I also prefer to really focus on the main couple and this book does so, but also includes POV of all the friends too and it can jump quickly...not always a smooth transition. Tons of intimate times, including one between the hero and another woman that I did not like. Not technically cheating, it just smacked of using people.
Overall not my favorite kind of read, but I would recommend it for those who love a more group story, lots of sexy times, some gut-wrenching emotional stuff, Alpha men with a beta side (tears) and those who are cool with repetitive words/phrases (over 500 instances in this book of people asking "are you okay?"
QUOTES:
He offers me the chance to be – not sick.” She looked at them, almost pleading. “Can you guys get that? He’s the only person right now who doesn’t know about the AML. Even when we aren’t talking about it, I see you all thinking about it. Everyone at work is looking at me like I’m about to drop dead any second. I need one place to go where I’m not Emma with cancer. I’m… Emma the sex goddess.”
With Emma, he slept better than he had in years. The nightmares had backed off, the guilt had receded. They were both still there, just below the surface, he knew; they would never leave him fully, but they were leaving him in peace. For now.
“Three years is a long time to punish yourself.”
“In some ways, it doesn’t feel like nearly long enough.” He sighed. “But lately, I’ve been thinking about letting it all go. Finding my way back home somehow.”
“And that safe place? You think you can find it?”
“I think I have.” He spoke so quietly, she barely heard him.
“Where?”
“Right here. With you.” He touched her face. “This is the only place I’ve found yet.”
However long it takes to get to you, baby, I’ll do it. I’m right here.
“A few things to get straight between us, angel. First, you will never be ugly. Not ever. This illness is ugly and I get that – but you’re not. Second, I can be here if I want to be, and if you’ll have me. I have friends who’ll be there if I need to lean on them, just like you have yours. Third, I know all about fighting a losing battle against an enemy you can’t even f'ing see. I know how afraid and frustrated you are. I know you feel all alone. But you’re not alone, honey. Let me be here for you.”
“But I won’t even be able to make love soon,” she said. “You can’t – you need that from the person you’re with, I know. You won’t be able to do without that.”
“Don’t tell me what I can and can’t do without. I went through intensive and specialized military training and three tours in Afghanistan. You think I was getting laid every night? I can go without sex for long periods of time just fine, thank you very much. I’ll wait for you to get stronger.”
well… I kind of forgot about my personal life.”
“Until now.” Dean touched her face.
“Until now. And my timing kind of sucks, huh? I wait for a cancer diagnosis to get my crap together with a good man.”
“It happens, baby. Good things at bad times, what we need comes to us when we’re fighting the fact that we need it.”
“You’re with me all the time. You have no idea what you pull me through, babe, just by existing.”
The good: The emotional scenes were great. Dealing with cancer was torture but the friendship and support was beautifully portrayed. I loved that the heroine was a clinical psychologist who did not overanalyze everyone. She was smart and kind.
Not so good: Most of the helpful background info was doled out slowly and I felt like some was missing. I also prefer to really focus on the main couple and this book does so, but also includes POV of all the friends too and it can jump quickly...not always a smooth transition. Tons of intimate times, including one between the hero and another woman that I did not like. Not technically cheating, it just smacked of using people.
Overall not my favorite kind of read, but I would recommend it for those who love a more group story, lots of sexy times, some gut-wrenching emotional stuff, Alpha men with a beta side (tears) and those who are cool with repetitive words/phrases (over 500 instances in this book of people asking "are you okay?"
QUOTES:
He offers me the chance to be – not sick.” She looked at them, almost pleading. “Can you guys get that? He’s the only person right now who doesn’t know about the AML. Even when we aren’t talking about it, I see you all thinking about it. Everyone at work is looking at me like I’m about to drop dead any second. I need one place to go where I’m not Emma with cancer. I’m… Emma the sex goddess.”
With Emma, he slept better than he had in years. The nightmares had backed off, the guilt had receded. They were both still there, just below the surface, he knew; they would never leave him fully, but they were leaving him in peace. For now.
“Three years is a long time to punish yourself.”
“In some ways, it doesn’t feel like nearly long enough.” He sighed. “But lately, I’ve been thinking about letting it all go. Finding my way back home somehow.”
“And that safe place? You think you can find it?”
“I think I have.” He spoke so quietly, she barely heard him.
“Where?”
“Right here. With you.” He touched her face. “This is the only place I’ve found yet.”
However long it takes to get to you, baby, I’ll do it. I’m right here.
“A few things to get straight between us, angel. First, you will never be ugly. Not ever. This illness is ugly and I get that – but you’re not. Second, I can be here if I want to be, and if you’ll have me. I have friends who’ll be there if I need to lean on them, just like you have yours. Third, I know all about fighting a losing battle against an enemy you can’t even f'ing see. I know how afraid and frustrated you are. I know you feel all alone. But you’re not alone, honey. Let me be here for you.”
“But I won’t even be able to make love soon,” she said. “You can’t – you need that from the person you’re with, I know. You won’t be able to do without that.”
“Don’t tell me what I can and can’t do without. I went through intensive and specialized military training and three tours in Afghanistan. You think I was getting laid every night? I can go without sex for long periods of time just fine, thank you very much. I’ll wait for you to get stronger.”
well… I kind of forgot about my personal life.”
“Until now.” Dean touched her face.
“Until now. And my timing kind of sucks, huh? I wait for a cancer diagnosis to get my crap together with a good man.”
“It happens, baby. Good things at bad times, what we need comes to us when we’re fighting the fact that we need it.”
“You’re with me all the time. You have no idea what you pull me through, babe, just by existing.”
August 22, 2016
I don't know what to say.
I'm glad I read this story. It was amazing read, short but had so much going on.
Emma's fight with cancer hit me in the heart. I cried and hoped that she made it.
It was perfect choice for me even with so much pain and sadness I found some light and positive thoughts.
One of polish poets, priest Jan Twardowski, wrote: "Let’s hurry to love people, they pass away so fast"
["Śpieszmy się kochać ludzi, tak szybko odchodzą."]
And Enemy Within confirm it is a true.
See full poem here.
I'm glad I read this story. It was amazing read, short but had so much going on.
Emma's fight with cancer hit me in the heart. I cried and hoped that she made it.
It was perfect choice for me even with so much pain and sadness I found some light and positive thoughts.
One of polish poets, priest Jan Twardowski, wrote: "Let’s hurry to love people, they pass away so fast"
["Śpieszmy się kochać ludzi, tak szybko odchodzą."]
And Enemy Within confirm it is a true.
See full poem here.
April 3, 2015
Loved it. It had amazing characters that you quickly come to care about and a beautiful yet heartbreaking story that keeps you turning the pages.
Safety group note
Safety group note
September 5, 2015
This was a touchy story that had more to offer than just a quick romance. There was a deeper connection made between Dean and Emma and it felt very authentic. I've already bought the rest of this series.
October 10, 2016
Bloody loved it! wish it was longer!
August 19, 2019
Sexy romance
This novella is the start of a series and it is a great way to begin. Wary soldier meets sick woman and they make a no strings attached arrangement. Of course that changes. In addition there are some interesting secondary characters that appear to be getting their own novellas.
This novella is the start of a series and it is a great way to begin. Wary soldier meets sick woman and they make a no strings attached arrangement. Of course that changes. In addition there are some interesting secondary characters that appear to be getting their own novellas.
March 13, 2019
this packed far more of an emotional punch than i expected for such a short book. i really liked it. there were a few things i didn't absolutely love, but overall, like i said, for such a short book it really blew me away and made me curious about the rest of the series.
September 30, 2015
3 1/2 stars
The first in a series about four girlfriends and 4 ex military buddies.
Emma just received some devastating health news and heads to a bar for a hook-up to forget her troubles. Dean, a former Ranger intervenes when a drunk gets rude with her and they end up leaving together. He's all about no strings so she leaves in the morning before he wakes. They meet by chance a month later and agree to a sex only relationship. No last names, no personal story, ok to hook up with others if they choose and either one can end it with a conversation.
What I didn't like: Dean has a hook-up with someone else after their one night stand. It's just once and he didn't think he's see Emma again but I didn't like.
The romance is hot and all the right elements are there but it didn't wow me.
What I liked: This story packs an emotional punch. I really like the characters and the way their friends all came together for him, I was weeping at one point and I really don't cry much in books. The author knows how to tug the heartstrings.
The characters a so likable, no one was annoying or unnecessary. Everyone had a role and the story unfolded well.
I tagged this happily for now because the story ends with Emma having a positive response to treatment but not being out of the woods. I have to believe the author will give her a real happy ending at the end of the series.
So overall, I liked it and have already finished book two and am starting book 3.
The first in a series about four girlfriends and 4 ex military buddies.
Emma just received some devastating health news and heads to a bar for a hook-up to forget her troubles. Dean, a former Ranger intervenes when a drunk gets rude with her and they end up leaving together. He's all about no strings so she leaves in the morning before he wakes. They meet by chance a month later and agree to a sex only relationship. No last names, no personal story, ok to hook up with others if they choose and either one can end it with a conversation.
What I didn't like: Dean has a hook-up with someone else after their one night stand. It's just once and he didn't think he's see Emma again but I didn't like.
The romance is hot and all the right elements are there but it didn't wow me.
What I liked: This story packs an emotional punch. I really like the characters and the way their friends all came together for him, I was weeping at one point and I really don't cry much in books. The author knows how to tug the heartstrings.
The characters a so likable, no one was annoying or unnecessary. Everyone had a role and the story unfolded well.
I tagged this happily for now because the story ends with Emma having a positive response to treatment but not being out of the woods. I have to believe the author will give her a real happy ending at the end of the series.
So overall, I liked it and have already finished book two and am starting book 3.
November 26, 2014
Wow! I had no clue who the author was but I read the reviews & thought I would give it a try....WOW so glad I did! What a beautifully written story....it was heart felt, funny, wth? moments & steaming hot. I could not put it down! Loved the group of friends.....if anyone could be that lucky to have that awesome support...incredible story....totally made me cry!! HEA Yeah! No cliffhanger Yeah! I'm going to read book 2 now....excited :). Would definitely recommend!
January 28, 2016
Where has this author been all my life. This was a fantastic read, with a superb cast of characters. Not only was the writing top notch, but the character interaction, super hot steam and general overall premise of the book was fantastic.
I've already purchased book to and it's ready to go.
Absolutely fantastic.
I've already purchased book to and it's ready to go.
Absolutely fantastic.
August 27, 2014
How does Marysol James keep turning out these great books? I've read everything she's written and am so upset that I have to wait a month for another book. Faster, woman! Faster! (OK, just kidding. Take your time. Just not TOO much time.)
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